Bobby Gene Belcher was born to John and Edith Belcher on the 24th of September, 1931 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was called home to be with the Lord on the 26th of May, 2019 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was the youngest of 3 children. Older brother Garland, who passed away at the age of 6, and a sister, Virginia Lee.
Bobby was always a very active child, always working and helping his mother. Bobby went to public and Catholic schools in Jonesboro and Nettleton High School.
He worked on the pipeline beginning at the age of 12 until the age of 19. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he went to her comfort and aide. His mother passed away in 1952. November 1952, he received his draft notice for the military. Bobby entered the Army on December 1, 1952. In 1954 he met and married his wife, Freda Belcher. They had to two sons Robert and Gary Belcher.
Bobby decided to make a career of the army in which he achieved the highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major in only 14 years. He was the youngest to ever achieve that distinguished rank. Bobby retired as the Post Command Sergeant Major of Fort Knox in Kentucky, the army’s armor training center. He was a soldier among the best and for the one in need, the lowest private, because he had been there and done it.
His assignments included Maryland, Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Arizona, Texas, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Kentucky, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1974, Bobby went into trucking in Midwest City, Oklahoma, which he sold out in 1976 and accepted a job with Kerr McGee as Superintendent of Wood Products in Madion, Illinois. After a year in this job, Bobby decided it was not his calling and moved back to Oklahoma. In 1977, he was diagnosed with cancer. He sold his trucking business and concentrated on fighting his illness by joining a cancer research program. He sold his home, and he and his family moved to Kentucky for 3 years for his treatment. Having faith in the Lord and Savior he went into remission.
Bobby and his family moved back to Oklahoma where Bobby got a job at Tinker Air Force Base maintaining the large air compressors until he retired at the age of 63. Bobby and his wife then worked on buying, restoring and selling homes until 1997.
He is survived by his loving wife Freda Belcher, Two sons Robert and Gary Belcher, 6 Grandchildren, Trista Stout, Jamie McKee, Traci Workman and Justin Belcher. Sarah and Loren, and 13 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his brother Garland, his mother Edith, father John, sister Virginia and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Bobby was a Master Mason who obtained the thirty second degree. His children and grandchildren were his driving force. He loved them and was always concerned for their well-being. If they had a need, he tried to solve it because he was a father and grandfather who really loved and cared for them. He was never a quitter, he was professional at every endeavor. Anything that presented itself as a challenge, be it ever so small, he gave it his very best.
Among his many decorations include the award of the Bronze star and three awards for bravery and combat.
Graveside Service:
Thursday, May 30th, 2019
Heritage Burial Park at South Lakes
4000 S.W. 119th
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Services entrusted to Vondel Smith Mortuary at South Lakes
Bobby was always a very active child, always working and helping his mother. Bobby went to public and Catholic schools in Jonesboro and Nettleton High School.
He worked on the pipeline beginning at the age of 12 until the age of 19. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he went to her comfort and aide. His mother passed away in 1952. November 1952, he received his draft notice for the military. Bobby entered the Army on December 1, 1952. In 1954 he met and married his wife, Freda Belcher. They had to two sons Robert and Gary Belcher.
Bobby decided to make a career of the army in which he achieved the highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major in only 14 years. He was the youngest to ever achieve that distinguished rank. Bobby retired as the Post Command Sergeant Major of Fort Knox in Kentucky, the army’s armor training center. He was a soldier among the best and for the one in need, the lowest private, because he had been there and done it.
His assignments included Maryland, Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Arizona, Texas, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Kentucky, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1974, Bobby went into trucking in Midwest City, Oklahoma, which he sold out in 1976 and accepted a job with Kerr McGee as Superintendent of Wood Products in Madion, Illinois. After a year in this job, Bobby decided it was not his calling and moved back to Oklahoma. In 1977, he was diagnosed with cancer. He sold his trucking business and concentrated on fighting his illness by joining a cancer research program. He sold his home, and he and his family moved to Kentucky for 3 years for his treatment. Having faith in the Lord and Savior he went into remission.
Bobby and his family moved back to Oklahoma where Bobby got a job at Tinker Air Force Base maintaining the large air compressors until he retired at the age of 63. Bobby and his wife then worked on buying, restoring and selling homes until 1997.
He is survived by his loving wife Freda Belcher, Two sons Robert and Gary Belcher, 6 Grandchildren, Trista Stout, Jamie McKee, Traci Workman and Justin Belcher. Sarah and Loren, and 13 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his brother Garland, his mother Edith, father John, sister Virginia and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Bobby was a Master Mason who obtained the thirty second degree. His children and grandchildren were his driving force. He loved them and was always concerned for their well-being. If they had a need, he tried to solve it because he was a father and grandfather who really loved and cared for them. He was never a quitter, he was professional at every endeavor. Anything that presented itself as a challenge, be it ever so small, he gave it his very best.
Among his many decorations include the award of the Bronze star and three awards for bravery and combat.
Graveside Service:
Thursday, May 30th, 2019
Heritage Burial Park at South Lakes
4000 S.W. 119th
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Services entrusted to Vondel Smith Mortuary at South Lakes
Bobby Gene Belcher was born to John and Edith Belcher on the 24th of September, 1931 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was called home to be with the Lord on the 26th of May, 2019 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was the youngest of 3 children. Older brother Garland, who passed away at the age of 6, and a sister, Virginia Lee.
Bobby was always a very active child, always working and helping his mother. Bobby went to public and Catholic schools in Jonesboro and Nettleton High School.
He worked on the pipeline beginning at the age of 12 until the age of 19. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he went to her comfort and aide. His mother passed away in 1952. November 1952, he received his draft notice for the military. Bobby entered the Army on December 1, 1952. In 1954 he met and married his wife, Freda Belcher. They had to two sons Robert and Gary Belcher.
Bobby decided to make a career of the army in which he achieved the highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major in only 14 years. He was the youngest to ever achieve that distinguished rank. Bobby retired as the Post Command Sergeant Major of Fort Knox in Kentucky, the army’s armor training center. He was a soldier among the best and for the one in need, the lowest private, because he had been there and done it.
His assignments included Maryland, Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Arizona, Texas, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Kentucky, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1974, Bobby went into trucking in Midwest City, Oklahoma, which he sold out in 1976 and accepted a job with Kerr McGee as Superintendent of Wood Products in Madion, Illinois. After a year in this job, Bobby decided it was not his calling and moved back to Oklahoma. In 1977, he was diagnosed with cancer. He sold his trucking business and concentrated on fighting his illness by joining a cancer research program. He sold his home, and he and his family moved to Kentucky for 3 years for his treatment. Having faith in the Lord and Savior he went into remission.
Bobby and his family moved back to Oklahoma where Bobby got a job at Tinker Air Force Base maintaining the large air compressors until he retired at the age of 63. Bobby and his wife then worked on buying, restoring and selling homes until 1997.
He is survived by his loving wife Freda Belcher, Two sons Robert and Gary Belcher, 6 Grandchildren, Trista Stout, Jamie McKee, Traci Workman and Justin Belcher. Sarah and Loren, and 13 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his brother Garland, his mother Edith, father John, sister Virginia and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Bobby was a Master Mason who obtained the thirty second degree. His children and grandchildren were his driving force. He loved them and was always concerned for their well-being. If they had a need, he tried to solve it because he was a father and grandfather who really loved and cared for them. He was never a quitter, he was professional at every endeavor. Anything that presented itself as a challenge, be it ever so small, he gave it his very best.
Among his many decorations include the award of the Bronze star and three awards for bravery and combat.
Graveside Service:
Thursday, May 30th, 2019
Heritage Burial Park at South Lakes
4000 S.W. 119th
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Services entrusted to Vondel Smith Mortuary at South Lakes
Bobby was always a very active child, always working and helping his mother. Bobby went to public and Catholic schools in Jonesboro and Nettleton High School.
He worked on the pipeline beginning at the age of 12 until the age of 19. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he went to her comfort and aide. His mother passed away in 1952. November 1952, he received his draft notice for the military. Bobby entered the Army on December 1, 1952. In 1954 he met and married his wife, Freda Belcher. They had to two sons Robert and Gary Belcher.
Bobby decided to make a career of the army in which he achieved the highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major in only 14 years. He was the youngest to ever achieve that distinguished rank. Bobby retired as the Post Command Sergeant Major of Fort Knox in Kentucky, the army’s armor training center. He was a soldier among the best and for the one in need, the lowest private, because he had been there and done it.
His assignments included Maryland, Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Arizona, Texas, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Kentucky, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1974, Bobby went into trucking in Midwest City, Oklahoma, which he sold out in 1976 and accepted a job with Kerr McGee as Superintendent of Wood Products in Madion, Illinois. After a year in this job, Bobby decided it was not his calling and moved back to Oklahoma. In 1977, he was diagnosed with cancer. He sold his trucking business and concentrated on fighting his illness by joining a cancer research program. He sold his home, and he and his family moved to Kentucky for 3 years for his treatment. Having faith in the Lord and Savior he went into remission.
Bobby and his family moved back to Oklahoma where Bobby got a job at Tinker Air Force Base maintaining the large air compressors until he retired at the age of 63. Bobby and his wife then worked on buying, restoring and selling homes until 1997.
He is survived by his loving wife Freda Belcher, Two sons Robert and Gary Belcher, 6 Grandchildren, Trista Stout, Jamie McKee, Traci Workman and Justin Belcher. Sarah and Loren, and 13 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his brother Garland, his mother Edith, father John, sister Virginia and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Bobby was a Master Mason who obtained the thirty second degree. His children and grandchildren were his driving force. He loved them and was always concerned for their well-being. If they had a need, he tried to solve it because he was a father and grandfather who really loved and cared for them. He was never a quitter, he was professional at every endeavor. Anything that presented itself as a challenge, be it ever so small, he gave it his very best.
Among his many decorations include the award of the Bronze star and three awards for bravery and combat.
Graveside Service:
Thursday, May 30th, 2019
Heritage Burial Park at South Lakes
4000 S.W. 119th
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Services entrusted to Vondel Smith Mortuary at South Lakes
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